Students complete an introductory reading on the lecompton constitution that can serve as an allinclusive assignment if time is limited. Four designs for magic lantern slides, images 1, 5, 4 and 7 showing the clearing of the first settlement, the devil introducing slavery into the colony, the devil flying away as slaves are freed and whites setting fire to the homes of freed slaves. In disagreement, congress sent the lecompton constitution back to the voters of kansas, where this time it was roundly defeated at the polls. Feb 05, 2011 a twominute video about the creation of the lecompton constitution during the period when kansas was trying to become a state. Of the voters present, 1,926 accepted the terms of statehood proposed by congress, while 11,812 rejected them, along with the lecompton constitution. The lecompton constitution was one of four proposed kansas state constitutions.
What is the summary of the lecompton constitution answers. The document was written in response to the antislavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james. The lecompton constitution was the second of the four proposed constitution for the state of kansas. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution kansas. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution. What was the historical significance of the lecompton.
The lecompton constitution was a proslavery document, pushed through by fraud, which congress did not approve the lecompton constitution was a proslavery constitution which was written in order to admit the state of kansas to the union that was opposed to the topeka constitution which was antislavery. The lecompton constitution supported the existence of slavery in the proposed state and protected rights of slaveholders. As a result, the lecompton constitution, with is provisions for slavery, was adopted. Though it is not widely remembered today, just the mention of lecompton stirred deep emotions among americans in the late 1850s. Dec 08, 2007 the lecompton constitution was the antislavery document named after the town in which it was drafted. On december 21, 1856 an election was held under this call, the freestate men not voting, with the result of 6,266 for the constitution with slavery and 569 for the constitution with no slavery. This new constitution was proslavery in kansas and protected the rights of slaveholders as well as. It is also important to remember that in regard to the lecompton constitution the issue is popular sovereignty even though the controversy is over slavery. The lecompton constitution was rejected on august 2, 1858, by a vote of 1,926 to 11,812. But when the lecompton constitution met its demise, the leavenworth constitution did, as well. It is the oldest building in kansas, consisting of the land office desk owned by albert boone, the famous candle box where john calhoun dropped fake ballots cast in the vote of the lecompton constitution, and also the office safe of the. Numerous constitutions were advanced by the territory to make this decision. Douglas addressed a mass meeting at milwaukee, wisconsin.
Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of the united states, march 4, 1858. The document was written in response to the antislavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james h. The lecompton constitution gave the iowa republican party a strong political hold on all political offices during the 1850s. Though it was rejected in a territorial election january 1858. The lecompton constitution, kansas 1857 excerpts relating to slavery from annals of kansas, 1857. It is also important to remember that in regard to the lecompton constitution the issue is popular sovereignty even though the controversy is slavery. The document was worded that whether it was voted up or down, slavery in some form was protected. Eventually, congress voted to call a new vote on the lecompton constitution, a move which infuriated southerners. Douglas recalled, the lecompton constitution, i told buchannan bluntly, was a blatant fraud on the people of kansas and the process of democracy, i warned him not to recommend acceptance of it. On the admission of kansas under the lecompton constitution. Meeting at the town of lecompton, the proslavery convention in kansas had drawn up a proposed. The president at the time, president buchanan, owes his presidency to the southern voters.
The senate approved the lecompton constitution over the nearfatal opposition of stephen douglas, who felt the documents procedural history made a mockery of popular sovereignty. Lecompton constitution, a proposed constitution under which the territory of kansas would have entered the union as a slave state. It contained clauses protecting slaveholding and a bill of rights excluding free blacks, and it added to the frictions leading up to the u. Lecompton constitution excerpt of the 8 page document. This resource on the lecompton constitution is also included in the much larger sectionalism and irreconcilable period bundle, located here. Lecomptonism became the rallying cry of the peoples party in the 1860 election. Popular sovereignty and the lecompton constitution topic. In any case, after much rejection, wrangling, bloodshed, speechifying, and.
He feels he needs to repay them, so he endorses the kansas constitution. Lecompton constitution proslavery free soilers boycott the election supported by president buchanan rejected by congress lecompton constitution dred scott was a slave who sued for his freedom dred scott case goes to supreme court in 1857 roger taney was the chief justice a southern democrat. The state was dominated by jacksonian democrats since iowa became a state in 1848. The lecompton constitution was the second of four proposed constitutions for the state of kansas it was preceded by the topeka constitution and was followed by the leavenworth and wyandotte constitutions, the wyandotte becoming the kansas state constitution. Lecompton constitution article about lecompton constitution. The lecompton constitution was a controversial and disputed legal document of the kansas territory that became the focus of a great national crisis as the united states split over the issue of slavery in the decade before the civil war. The congress ultimately rejected the lecompton constitution and kansas entered the nation as a free state in 1861. The lecompton constitution by stephen levesque c period 10.
Lecompton constitution united states history britannica. The constitution was drawn up at lecompton, the territorial. Although the lecompton constitution seems to be about the issue of slavery in the state of kansas, the issue would have to be decided by the people of the state. See other formats v hon sgikiuylet c ouak, ifc i wx ii ii 1 1 11 1 moufeu zo, ii0t class. What was the major complaint with the lecompton constitution.
Oct 17, 2011 the senate approved the lecompton constitution over the nearfatal opposition of stephen douglas, who felt the documents procedural history made a mockery of popular sovereignty. Lecompton constitution kansas memory this is the text of the lecompton constitution, as printed in daniel w. The proslavery lecompton constitution was formulated sept. Lecompton constitution in 1857, proslavery govt in kansas wrote constitution and asked for admittance to union freesoilers rejected it because it protected rights of slave holders. In 1857, the lecompton constitution was created allowing for kansas to be a slave state. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of the united states, march 4, 1858 hammond, james henry on. The other proposed state constitutions were the topeka constitution, the leavenworth constitution and the wyandotte. The lecompton constitution was the second constitution drafted for kansas territory and was written by proslavery supporters. The lecompton constitutions effect on the state of iowa is very important.
Kansas applied for statehood twice the lecompton capital supported kansas as a slave state with its lecompton constitution, and the topeka capital supported kansas as a free state. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Dec 31, 2012 the lecompton constitution was one of four proposed kansas state constitutions. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate of. The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and its increase is the same and as inviolable as the. While the debate shifted to the national scene, delegates for the territorys third constitutional convention were elected on march 9 and assembled in leavenworth on march 25, 1858. Proslavery forces supported by president james buchanan attempted to push the constitution through the us congress for acceptance. Lecompton constitution, 1857, instrument framed in lecompton, kan. The document was written in response to the anti slavery position of the 1855 topeka constitution of james h. On 4 january 1858, kansas voters, having the opportunity to reject the constitution altogether in the referendum, overwhelmingly rejected the lecompton proposal by a vote of 10,226 to 8. You will see the hardbound volume of the 1855 statues of kansas territory preserved in the constitution hall. Kansasthe lecompton constitution speech in the senate. The lecompton constitution was a proslavery constitution which was written in order to admit the state of kansas to the union that was opposed to the topeka constitution which was antislavery. The right of property is before and higher than any constitutional sanction, and the right of the owner of a slave to such slave and its increase is the same and as inviolable as the right of the owner of any property whatever.
The legislature drew up the lecompton constitution. Furthermore, a new constitution, the antislavery leavenworth constitution, was already being drafted. Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton constitution book. Though it is not widely remembered today, just the mention of lecompton stirred deep emotions among. The lecompton constitution was the antislavery document named after the town in which it was drafted. December 21, 1857, january 4, 1858, and august 2, 1858. Despite the proviso, the constitution was rejected by kansans, and kansas was admitted to the union as a free state in 1861. In 1859, iowas republican party held all major offices in the state of iowa. Kansas constitutions kansapedia kansas historical society. Lecompton constitution proslavery constitution written for kansas admission to the union in opposition to the antislavery topeka constitution.
This constitution was called the lecompton constitution because it was written in lecomton, kansas, by the prosalvery government. The lecompton constitutional convention was held on september, 1857 in lecompton, kansas territory. In the final vote, residents of kansas territory rejected the lecompton constitution. After all the boycotts and victories in the senate and house by both sides of the constitution, the lecompton constitution was completely defeated on august 1858 by the people of kansas by a 6 to 1 margin. Discover how the issue of slavery came to dominate american politics, and how political leaders struggled and failed to resolve the growing crisis in the nation. What was so important about the lecompton constitution. A twominute video about the creation of the lecompton constitution during the period when kansas was trying to become a state. He took up the charges which has recently been made against him that. Speech on the admission of kansas, under the lecompton.
This resulted in a rift between those who followed buchanan and douglas in. The lecompton constitution is easiest to understand when examined through the series of steps needed to create a state constitution. When the lecompton constitution was resubmitted to the people of kansas for a vote, the results of the referendum were devastating to the proslave faction, and to the hideous embarrassment of. But the lecompton constitution was not finally rejected until the house of representatives voted down the admission of kansas as a state under the lecompton constitution by a close margin, featuring stephen douglas and many northern democrats siding with the free soil republicans. Students learn about the lecompton constitution that nearly admitted kansas as a slave state, its fate, and how its controversy further split the nation.